"Do you know what is going on?"
"How would I know?"
"I know it! Since this barbarian takeover, everything has changed. Things would never be the same."
"Yeah... I can't imagine the brutal response from the empire."
"I'm scared. What should we do?"
"You people are pathetic. What has the empire offered us since they ruled over us? Hmm? Nothing. We've lived like dogs every day, and when the monster beasts attack, we commoners are the ones forced to the battlefront to die first."
The Gray Pagoda State had been in a state of tension since its creation. With each day, the tension grew stronger.
It was so strong that it was suffocating; each prefecture was on edge.
Many harbored thoughts of escaping, but when they remembered the vast chasm between each state, they were left helpless.
Moreover, the Celestial Heavenly Sect was reassuring the people that everything would be alright.
But that could only go so far. The only saving grace was there was a lot to do that kept the masses occupied.
The Celestial Heavenly Sect provided various jobs with high-paying wages that put smiles on the faces of the common people.
Most of the common people had already accepted their fate, leaving only the prominent clans to worry about their future.
The future looked bleak, but no one dared to confront the Celestial Heavenly Sect.
Everything may be questioned, not the strength of their army.
It was so intimidating that many shivered when they saw them patrolling the streets.
Inside the Gray Pagoda capital, standing inside the main hall of the previous governor, Elder Hua, with a solemn expression, looked at the state governor and the prefecture lords.
"We're under attack." Her voice was not loud, but everyone could feel the gravity of the situation.
"This is just one of the many attacks. So you must be mentally prepared."
"You don't need to fret. I've never encountered a war we won't win. This won't be any different."
Everyone looked at Elder Hua with astonishment. What confidence?
Such bold words must not be uttered casually without the strength to back them up.
Even the mighty empire had lost against the monster beast race. How could she utter such a statement?
Even though none found it convincing, they all held their thoughts to themselves, looking at the various expressions flashing through their faces. Elder Hua knew they did not believe her, but did she care? No.
"As we speak, millions of Earth-Eating Rats are rushing in our direction," she announced calmly.
They saw many strange and intimidating mountains on their path.
Some mountains resembled humanoid beasts, while some stood so tall that they couldn't see the end.
Many times they heard whispers coming from the mountains and couldn't help but think the mountains were alive.
After spending hours inside the endless mountain, they grew tired of the eerie mountains.
Some were like massive ears, while some looked like mouths. Others like fangs of beasts.
Even a fool could realize these weren't any ordinary mountains.
As the upper echelon of the Pagoda Empire, he was privileged to some news.
During one of their meetings, Su Yen had mentioned that the Endless Mountain might not be mountains.
Thus, he had embarked on this conquest with the mindset of the mountain waking up from their slumber and attacking them.
Sitting on his intimidating black throne, Su Yen watched the expenditure of the three attacks.
Beside him was his woman, Huang Guo. She watched the scene displaying before them with a calm expression.
Sitting below were the elders, each of them watching the event without uttering a word.
After a day of traveling, Elder Feng encountered the threat covered in fog, while Su Bolin also encountered his.
Huh!
Everyone inside the hall sucked in a cold breath. The moment of truth had finally come.
Slowly, the mysterious fog began to dissipate. After ten minutes, the fog finally disappeared.
The churning sea writhed in protest as a behemoth rose from its depths, a monstrosity that defied mortal comprehension.
Its colossal form, easily surpassing the height of the mightiest coastal cliffs with a height of over one hundred meters, breaching the surface, casting an oppressive shadow that swallowed the sun.
Three eyes, each the size of a fisherman's hut, glared down from its glistening head, their obsidian depths reflecting the dying light in an unholy kaleidoscope.
Coils of glistening, barnacle-encrusted tentacles, each thicker than the mast of a galleon, erupted from its body, thrashing the water into a frenzy.
Their sinuous lengths seemed to stretch for an eternity, easily surpassing two hundred meters, disappearing back into the churning abyss from whence it came.
Its maw, a gaping chasm ringed by rows of jagged, barnacle-encrusted teeth, gaped wide enough to swallow a small mountain whole.
It roared, a sound that wasn't so much a noise but a primal tremor that shook the very foundations of the sea and sent shivers down the spines.
Just then, a name appeared in their minds.
Ancient Sealed Demon: Kraken.